Such is the kudos of a release on Jesus Culture Music that any worship
leader achieving such a thing is almost bound to make an impact on the
international Church. The release on 30th September of the album
'Atmospheres: Live' by Justin Jarvis brings to the spotlight a
humble yet anointed songsmith and worship leader who describes himself
as a "local church guy" who also happens to write original music for
his congregation each week. Jarvis has overseen and continues to
direct the music and creative culture of The Harbour Church in Fort
Lauderdale, Florida, but is now being lauded by artists like Kim
Walker-Smith, John Mark McMillan and Leeland Mooring.

No one was more surprised than Justin when he received a phone call
from Kim Walker-Smith, long time frontwoman for Jesus Culture and the
president of the movement's record label, called to ask him to join
Chris Quilala on tour with the idea that they would record Jarvis'
sets for a live album. It would be the singer/songwriter's first tour
and his first full-length record for a label. Said Jarvis, "It's not
that I didn't want to be travelling, I just didn't want to push those
doors open on my own. I'm excited because I feel like God's opening a
whole new world to me. If I know anything, I know God's opened the
doors and he's made a way. I only have him to thank for that."

Jesus Culture was a natural fit for Jarvis' entrance into the music
scene, as he forged a friendship with highly-respected producer Jeremy
Edwardson (Michael W Smith, Jesus Culture) years prior when Edwardson
came to Florida to help record an independent project for Harbour
Church. Soon after, Jarvis was asked to contribute to Jesus Culture's
'Emerging Voices' compilation. He knew the relationship was special
from the beginning, but he had no idea what God was orchestrating. "It
was a pretty cool thing, because it was a lot more than a business
transaction," Jarvis commented. "It just felt like God's up to
something with this relationship, with this friendship. [Jeremy] was
just really excited about what was happening in our church."

As a songwriter, worship leader and church planter, Jarvis places
great emphasis on helping people become all God created them to be in
the places where they live and work, cultivating an environment of
organic evangelism that places the day-to-day life of the believer
into the larger context of God's epic narrative. Continued Jarvis,
"Our heart is just really focused on regular people carrying Jesus
into their sphere of influence. We really want to see regular,
everyday people empowered with Jesus, his love, his Word, his spirit
[and] his power in whatever sphere of influence they find themselves
in. Whether you're a cashier or a banker or a lawyer or a teacher or a
chef or you work at a church; whatever you do, you're taking the
presence of God and the power of God and the love of Jesus into that
sphere, and you're giving it away to people."

Jarvis acknowledges that his church shares a parallel vision with the
Jesus Culture movement that makes their partnership seamless. He said,
"[Jesus Culture's] out there telling kids, 'Hey, go do what you love
to do; go be what you want to be, and take the power and love and
presence of God into that sphere with you'. When I heard them saying
that, I was like, 'Maybe the Holy Spirit's up to something with this
relationship even though I'm on the other side of the country.'"

That's why it was easy for him to view this unique touring opportunity
as an open door. During his two-week run with Jesus Culture, Jarvis
shared the stage with Chris Quilala (guitar), Jeffrey Kunde (guitar),
Ian McIntosh (keys), Josh Fisher (drums) and Brandon Aaronson (bass)
who all acted as his backing band. The resulting live album, produced
by Edwardson, pushes the boundaries of standard live worship
recordings. While some of the 10 original tracks on 'Atmospheres' -
all written by Jarvis and spanning over 60 minutes - were anthems he
has been leading for years at his church, three songs are brand-new,
meaning he hadn't even had time to "road test" them with his own
congregation. Yet, the project is so cohesively woven together
sonically and lyrically, listeners will have trouble believing this
was Jarvis' touring debut.

Of the album's theme and the title track Justin explained, "The whole
concept of 'Atmospheres' is just that tension between the encounter
with God that deposits something in you and then the sharing of that
with others in the day in, day out. Wherever we go, our lives are
gateways for the love of God and the power of God in and through us.
The Holy Spirit in us will shift the atmosphere, and we'll leave an
impact wherever we go."

The swelling soundscapes on 'Atmospheres live up to its sweeping title
with large, bold anthems big enough to fill arenas and conjuring
comparisons to Coldplay, The Killers and Arcade Fire - all band's who
have influenced Jarvis, who began playing guitar and leading worship
in high school. Growing up in Alabama, Jarvis sang in chorus starting
in elementary school, but it was during his pivotal high school and
college years that his musical preferences were shaped. As a teen he
was inspired by artists who had the ability to add spontaneity to
their sets in the middle of their live performances - like Counting
Crows and Dave Matthews Band. Observed Justin, "I think it's powerful
the effect arena rock has on people on such a massive live scale.
There's something in that sound that touches us. We'll gather tens of
thousands at a time and listen and sing, just because we love it and
it moves our hearts."

Jarvis' penchant for indie rock and the depth of his theology is
evident from the album's opening guitar riffs. The gripping lead cut,
"Take Heart", based on John 16, reminds believers that faith in God
does not exempt you from life's hardships. Commented the singer, "That
song is a really important song for me, because I think people need to
hear hope in the context of trouble. You don't really have real hope
without real trouble." Also rooted in Scripture, the powerful
"Heaven's Light" comes from Isaiah 58 and serves as Jarvis'
self-described "first modern hymn." "It's about Jesus in us and
through us. As we go deeper in relationship with him, he is both the
light we look to and the light we shine on others. He sets us free,
teaches us how to trust him, and gives us grace to overcome by his
Spirit."The closer "Born Of God", a song which Chris Quilala
recorded for the most recent Jesus Culture record, is an unabashed
retelling of the Gospel culled from Isaiah 53. Stated Jarvis, "Jesus
was like us. His love and humility and the power of his choice to
really come and embrace the world - it's crazy. A baby in the arms of
a teenage girl - just submitting himself to that, to a childhood and
an adolescence and learning the craft of his father and being in a
body that wasn't overly impressive; yet his life here proclaimed the
arrival of God's Kingdom on earth. His life tore the veil for every
person to know God. That wasn't some big spiritual experience alone,
it was a life. It was a day-by-day, morning, noon and night life that
he lived."

Continued Jarvis, "We have encounters with God that mark different
parts of our journey through life. God gives them to us so that they
become catalysts for our everyday. An encounter with God in a moment
leaves an impact, but that impact is realised in its fullness when we
carry what God gave us into everyday and give it away to the world
around us."

With 'Atmospheres', Jarvis hopes each song extends pieces of the hope
and life and love that he's experienced through his relationship with
Christ. Justin admitted, "I think there's a lot of faith, a lot of
hope, a lot of deep theology in the record that I want people to catch
so that they're ready to believe God for anything. I really want the
songs to open up encounters with God that touch people's hearts, take
them deeper and leave them changed. I hope the songs give people
confidence in what Jesus has done for us so that we can live the life
he's called us to live - as sons, as daughters - that the songs will
inspire people to believe Jesus and act on his love and his power."

The opinions expressed in this article are
not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed
views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may
not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a
later date.

Reader Comments

i am a 24year old single mum from malawi africa, i have come
to know jesus culture as a group that sings worship songs
that have inspired,motivated, moved and touched my life
through out my life. thank God for the songs i really like
them and indeed they fill me with a spirit of worship. i
always feel the presence of God whenever am listening to u
guys. i remember two years ago i had no job and i was
passing through hard times after i broke up with the father
of my child, it was jesus cultures song "your love never
fails" especially and indeed Gods love never fails i now got
a good job and Gods love is not failing, my son is growing
by his grace. keep it up guys and may God continue to bless
u as u worship him more and more.

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